Brain hemorrhage in a newborn, also known as intracranial bleeding, is caused by rupture of blood vessels inside the skull. This may be the result of a lack of oxygen or bone deformation during childbirth. Cerebral hemorrhage is more common among premature babies when ischemia occurs - insufficient blood flow to the brain, and hypoxia - a decrease in the amount of oxygen in the blood.
Most babies with intracranial bleeding do not feel any symptoms. But this condition can lead to slowness, lethargy and problems with feeding. Depending on where the cerebral hemorrhage occurred in the newborn, it is classified into several types.
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage occurs in the space between the arachnoid and soft membranes covering the brain. It is the most common type of intracranial bleeding and, as a rule, occurs in full-term babies. With subarachnoid hemorrhage, a child in the first days of life may have seizures from time to time. Then the condition returns to normal.
- Subdural hemorrhage occurs between the outer and inner shells of the brain as a result of a head injury. Currently, it is quite rare due to the improvement of the methodology of childbirth. If subdural cerebral hemorrhage occurs in newborns, the consequences can be serious. Bleeding can lead to a heavy load on the surface of the brain, which can lead to a high level of bilirubin in the blood or lead to the development of neurological disorders.
- Intraventricular hemorrhage in the brain in a newborn occurs in cerebral cavities (ventricles) filled with cerebrospinal fluid . Most often, it occurs in very premature babies due to underdevelopment of the brain. An increased risk of developing such bleeding is in babies born before 32 weeks of gestation. Since the still developing brain of premature infants has greater endurance, hemorrhage usually goes away in the first three days of life and does not cause subsequent problems. More serious bleeding, leading to the complete filling of the ventricles with blood, can cause damage to the “gray matter”, which is associated with complications such as cerebral palsy and behavioral problems.
Brain hemorrhage in a newborn is diagnosed by ultrasound. All infants with intracranial bleeding should receive enhanced care, as well as treatment consisting of intravenous infusions and other procedures to maintain the body's functions until it recovers. With subdural hemorrhages, the surgeon should make therapy. With proper care and treatment, intracranial bleeding does not cause long-term problems. Although the result depends on many factors, including the degree of the disease, the degree of brain damage, other diseases and infections that the child has. So that a newborn with a brain hemorrhage in the future can develop to its maximum potential, parents should provide him with a stimulating environment in the first years of life.